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Southwest Employees Picket Over Hiring Of Temporary Workers

OAKLAND (KCBS) — Workers at Southwest Airlines held an informational picket outside Oakland International Airport Thursday afternoon. The event was part of a nationwide effort to protest stalled contract negotiations that have gone on for about a year and a half.

The Transport Workers Union does not like Southwest's proposal.

"Instead of hiring full-time, career, dedicated employees, they want to begin contracting out our labor to temporary employees - radically increasing the part-time numbers," said union spokesperson Johnny Kaczmarek.

In addition, Kaczmarek is worried about the safety and customer service involved with bringing on temporary employees. He said they would be told by the company that they'd have 120 days to work.

Southwest Employees Picket Over Hiring Of Temporary Workers

"Why would this guy care if that bag makes it? He knows in 120 days he's gone," he said.

So far there has been no response about the picket from Southwest's media relations office in Dallas, Texas.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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